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Partner of the Year & Volunteer of the Year

Francisco Quintana, the Hasty Elementary School Fine Arts Academy Volunteer of the Year, reacts to the surprise announcement he was named the CCSD 2019 Volunteer of the Year.

NOTE: A gallery of photos from the event is posted online here. To read more about all of the school honorees, please click here.

The Cherokee County School District celebrated outstanding school community partners and volunteers at the Sixth Annual CCSD Partner of the Year and Volunteer of the Year Recognition Ceremony.

The ceremony on Thursday, March 7, 2019 at CCSD’s Dr. Frank R. Petruzielo Educational Services Facility honored a Partner of the Year and a Volunteer of the Year for each individual school and center. The evening included the surprise announcement of the CCSD Partner of the Year and Volunteer of the Year selected from that pool of 79 honorees.

Ball Ground Police Department, the Ball Ground Elementary School STEM Academy Partner of the Year, was named the CCSD 2019 Partner of the Year, and Francisco Quintana, the Hasty Elementary School Fine Arts Academy Volunteer of the Year, was named the CCSD 2019 Volunteer of the Year.

“It takes a community to make great schools. Our School District is a family, and outstanding partners and volunteers are an important part of our family,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower said. “Recognizing dedicated partners and volunteers is just one way we encourage these important relationships. The time, treasure and talent they share is valuable beyond measure.”

The recognition ceremony was sponsored by the Cherokee County Educational Foundation, a nonprofit organization that raises funds and awareness for CCSD. Prior to the ceremony, which included tributes and the presentation of plaques by the Superintendent of Schools and School Board members to all honorees, a reception was held in the auditorium lobby. The honorees were joined at the event by their families, Principals of the schools that they support and other special guests.

After the CCSD Partner of the Year and Volunteer of the Year were announced, excerpts were shared from the nomination letters submitted by the Principals of the schools that they support. A committee of retired educators and community leaders selected the CCSD winners from the pool of exemplary nominees.

The CCSD Partner of the Year, Ball Ground Police Department, was recognized for the outstanding relationships it builds with students, parents and staff, which are important every day, and especially when an emergency arises. In his nomination letter, Principal Dr. Christian Kirby shared a story of how, when a student lost his parents at the school’s fall festival, the child, because of the relationships built with the Department, sought out an officer for help and was successfully reunited.

“The Ball Ground Police Department has been an extremely active and dedicated partner with our school. The officers are always present at school functions… and, most every morning: rain, shine or freezing cold, Chief Bryon Reeves is assisting at car-rider duty,” Dr. Kirby said. “They are committed to assisting and supporting our students, both in the classroom and throughout the community.”

The CCSD Volunteer of the Year, Francisco Quintana, doesn’t have children at Hasty Elementary School Fine Arts Academy, but when his wife began working as its lunchroom manager in August, she told him about the needs of the children and staff. Moved by their needs and feeling he could make a difference, Mr. Quintana offered to be a volunteer, and now volunteers from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. After school breaks, Principal Rodney Larrotta shared in his nomination letter, Mr. Quintana “comes in saying ‘I missed being here.’”

“Mr. Quintana has truly become part of our Hasty Huskies family, and he understands the importance of education and how it could be the ticket to break the cycle of poverty in the world. We are very fortunate to have him with us. The more we get to work with him, the more blessed we feel to have this exceptional individual with such a big heart, sharing his time, gifts, friendship, energy, wisdom, passion and his heart with us,” Principal Larrotta said. “He is heaven-sent!”

Every week, a different school Partner of the Year and Volunteer of the Year will be featured on CCSD social media platforms.